GEORGIA: City of Hephzibah looking to form charter school

HEPHZIBAH, Ga. (WRDW) — It’s all about options. That’s what those in Hephzibah are saying about their effort to start a charter school.

It all started with the election in November and the charter school amendment. The amendment gave control of charter schools to the state, taking it away from the local board of education. If this charter school in Hephzibah goes forward it’ll be the first local test since the amendment was approved.

“Where’s the options to get a better education for your kids?,” asked Deanna Jones. She is a mother of three who lives in Hephzibah. “Hephzibah is growing. I think it has the possibility of growing and growing in the right direction, but it does need help with schools.”

So for now, she and a neighbor, Susan Rogers, both keep their kids at home during the day. Rogers home schools her children and Jones’ children attend an online charter school

“I don’t like the environment,” explained Jones. “I don’t like the environment nowadays in public schools.”

“I think it would be a good thing for Hephzibah to have a high caliber school such as a charter school,” added Rogers.

That’s exactly what the city of Hephzibah is looking to start.

“When the constitutional amendment came about I guess that’s what brought it to a lot of people’s attention that, hey there’s a choice out here. We can do a charter school.” said City commission chairman Robert Buchwitz.

Right now it’s in the beginning stages of surveys and community meetings to gauge interest. Around 70 people showed up at a recent forum to find out more.

“For the most part most everybody there was very in favor and they had a lot of questions,” said Buchwitz. “It’s new to everybody.”

City commission chairman Robert Buchwitz says a charter school would have it’s own board, giving more local control.

“One size doesn’t always fit all and when you’ve got more local control and more eyes paying attention its just like a smaller classroom size,” explained Buchwitz.

“That’s something Jones says is extremely important.

“Not all the kids are the same,” said Jones. “They’re not, but schools don’t have that flexibility. Charter schools, they work under a different umbrella to offer another choice.”

City leaders say there are 4,000 people in the Hephzibah city limits and around 1100 school aged children. They say a good school would also draw more people to the area, helping the city grow

Now, they are looking for input from surveys and community meetings. They will set up another meeting in the next two weeks and with the right support, the plan is to have this open in fall 2014.

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